Energetic Electron Acceleration by Ion-scale Magnetic Islands in Turbulent Magnetic Reconnection: Particle-in-cell Simulations and ARTEMIS Observations

Particle-in-cell simulations show that numerous ion-scale magnetic islands can be formed in a turbulent magnetic reconnection region. These islands can confine and accelerate electrons to high energies effectively, causing the energetic electron energy flux to peak at the center of each island. ARTEMIS spacecraft observations of turbulent reconnection outflows in Earth's magnetotail reveal that peaks in the energetic electron energy flux are well correlated with bipolar signatures of reconnected magnetic field, which are indicative of ion-scale magnetic islands, providing observational evidence for this acceleration process.